HarbourCats name new Head Coach, Graig Merritt

Aug 14,2014(ISN) – VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats program is designed to preparecollege players for professional baseball, and new Head Coach Graig Merrittis perfectly suited to do just that while focusing on developing players ina winning culture.

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to introduce Merritt, 36, as the newHead Coach of the West Coast League organization. Merritt takes the rolepreviously held by Bob Miller (2014) and the Co-Head Coach arrangement withMiller and Dennis Rogers in 2013, the inaugural season. The HarbourCatswere 22-32 in the first season, and finished three games better at 25-29this past season.

”Graig is a fiery guy who has a long track record of succeeding, and weare excited to support him as he builds his coaching staff, works onrecruiting players for the 2015 season, and then develops the group into acohesive, winning team,” said HarbourCats President John McLean.

”Graig has a very high baseball intelligence, is a strong communicatorboth with players and in the community, and will connect with the playersin a way that will help them believe in their abilities.”

Merritt is a Canadian, from Maple Ridge, B.C., and a graduate of Terry FoxSecondary School. He played collegiately at College of Southern Idaho andthen transferred to Chico State where he was the starting catcher for theNCAA Division 2 championship team in 1999, playing for Head Coach LindsayMeggs, who is now Head Coach at the University of Washington. Merritt wastwice drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers – 67th round in 1996, and 44th roundin 1997. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2001 and got as high as AAbefore being released in 2006. Along the way, he caught current MLB starsJames Shields and Jason Hammel, among others.

Merritt has won two Canada Cup gold medals, been a member of the nationaljunior team, won a Baseball Canada Senior Championship, and been part oftwo provincial championships at the senior level.

Merritt was in spring training with the Rays MLB club in 2003 and 2004, androse through the ranks because of his ability to handle a pitching staffand run a game defensively. Merritt has been an area scout for the TampaBay Rays since 2008 and is former owner and operator of the West CoastBaseball Academy.

”I have known Graig since 2006 and his understanding of the game and howit needs to be played is impressive – he is either described as the bestteammate or coach a player has ever had, or the guy you hated to competeagainst,” said Jim Swanson, General Manager of the HarbourCats. ”He willteach the game, with passion, and his game management skills will help uswin games. Graig has contacts throughout the baseball world, and especiallyin college baseball, and we are confident he will put in place a qualitycoaching staff that will teach and lead players with their development.”

”This is the best market and city in the West Coast League, and thisleague is maybe only second to the Cape Cod League for summer opportunitiesfor elite collegiate players,” said Merritt. ”The ownership andmanagement are second to none at this level. In speaking with John and Jim,the HarbourCats have very high goals and that’s perfect because I have highexpectations as well, for the fans here and for how we develop players intopotential professionals. I want to see players get better, and I want tosee players succeed. I think my contacts and coaching style will mesh wellwith what we want to accomplish here. I am excited to begin playerrecruitment and to start work in assembling a first-class coaching stafffor the 2015 season.”

Merritt’s first tasks are to hire a top-end pitching coach, and to work onplayer commitments for 2015 – including reaching out to schools thatprovided quality players the past two years, and working with his ownnetworks to secure the best talent.

”I know how competitive the West Coast League is, and I’m excited aboutthe challenge ahead in looking to bring playoff baseball to Victoria,”said Merritt.

*Notable*: A .194 batting average in five seasons over 262 games, hit 21doubles, three home runs and nine stolen bases… Threw out 39% of would-bebase-stealers, including 45% in his final year of AA… In the minor leagues,played with MLB players such as Delmon Young, Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann,James Shields, Jorge Cantu, Matt Diaz, Joey Gathright, Jonny Gomes, BJUpton, Chad Gaudin, Rocco Baldelli, Josh Hamilton and John Rocker.

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